Timmy Buda and Alex Glenn didn’t have many opportunities out of the backfield last year. When the duo got its chance in Friday’s season opener, it didn’t waste any time.

Buda and Glenn combined for 305 yards on the ground and five of Salisbury’s six touchdowns in a 47-29 victory over Catasauqua. The Falcons led 33-6 in the third quarter before the Rough Riders threatened late, but a 75-yard touchdown from Glenn sealed the victory.

“It feels great,” Buda said. “We’ve been working so hard and the boys have been busting their butts in the weight room and on the practice field.”

While it was Glenn starting and finishing strong for Salisbury (40 yards and a touchdown on the first drive and later the game-clinching score) Buda’s 155 rushing yards led the way. He provided a nice change of pace for head coach Andy Cerco.

After Jacob Kamp hit a 20-yard field goal and a Cam Vaka touchdown pass to Delano McKenzie put Salisbury in front 16-0, Buda made his mark on the game. The sophomore tailback scampered for 57 yards on his first carry of the next drive, and then scored from three yards out as the Falcons held a commanding 23-0 advantage.

“I have to give huge props to my offensive line,” Buda said. “We’ve got some big boys up there that were protecting me. I just had to get it done.”

“Our coach said it before the game,” Vaka said. “We’ve been looking forward to this since Thanksgiving. We’ve been in the weight room every single day. We’ve been doing whatever we need to do to get this win tonight.”

Catasauqua finally got on the scoreboard with a two-yard touchdown from Will-Quon Clemens midway through the second quarter. But Salisbury’s offensive line continued its dominance in the second half and paved the way for Buda, Glenn, McKenzie and Kyle Pingarelli.

Buda scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter that increased Salisbury’s lead to 40-14.

“We have a kid (Buda) that is almost half as big as [2107 graduate Eric] Frankenfield, and he is running as hard as Frankenfield,” Vaka said. “We’re so proud of everyone, the defensive line and the offensive line.”

“He has great acceleration and he is developing a patience,” Cerco said of his sophomore running back. “He is beginning to understand our offense, and how to set blocks up. He’s a really great athlete. He’s really fun to coach. He’s a great kid.”

Cerco, who has seen this offensive line mature over the past couple of seasons, was not surprised at its performance. Michael and Kyle Killiri, Dillon Trenge and Dan Jennings led the way in the trenches, along with others pitching in.

“Our offensive line is pretty good as far as being coachable and they are really good about having a good mentality as far as getting after people,” Cerco said. “With their attitude and effort every day, it makes a lot of sense that would come out on a Friday night.

“They have some really good athletes and they have some very big boys. But you saw what happened when we went two tight ends and ran the ball.”

The Rough Riders got within two scores with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. And Catty was in the middle of a drive, down at Salisbury’s own 5-yard line, for a chance to make it just a touchdown game. But the Falcons were there to block Catty’s field goal, and it was no one other than Buda who secured the recovery.